A report on
Egyptian / American project
ARETMeC & ARTC
implemented upon agreement between The Higher Institute for
Agricultural Cooperation HIAC, Shoubra El-Khaima, Egypt
and
Iowa
State University, USA
under supervision of concerned government bodies
(
After the visit of The
Advisory Committee to Agricultural Researches and Experimental Station and Agribusiness Center)
The
Project has begun in 1993 – 1994 and was titled “Agribusiness
Research Training Center “ under the supervision of Ministry of
Agriculture and Land Reclamation financed by Program 416-B in
local currency for two years 1993 –1995.
In 1996 this
project was developed by using new technical units and its title
became “Agribusiness Research Education Training and Media Center
ARETMeC“ under the supervision of Ministery of Higher Education
and financed
by special account in local currency.
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Throughout the life term
of the project, being ten years
till 2004, it has made many achievements in varied fields summarized
in the following points.
-
The faculty of HIAC traveled to USA
for one academic year to get acquainted with the latest technology
of education
-
Some
of the technical staff traveled to USA for training in varied fields
-
Developing curricula in Arabic language for post graduate
diplomas
-
Studying curricula core in comparison with actual needs of
the market. Reviewing the curriculum subjects for the academic four years
and teaching them practically in new frame
-
Four
post graduate diplomas were created in English language
-
Using
computer in teaching the practical applications of economic
subjects and teaching the Computer Sciences as a main subject for HIAC
students.
-
Opening new four computer labs and teaching some subjects by using
computer
-
The
project contributes to using the internet when equipment required
-
Through the project
period, three visiting professors of
Iowa State University came to
HIAC to participate in the teaching of the modern curriculum in
English language
-
Supplying HIAC with many of books including 170 reference books to
help in teaching curriculum of post graduate diplomas in English
language, besides software, video cassettes and demonstrating
slides for curriculum of under graduates, as well as economic and
biotechnology subjects.
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Training field :
Model unit of
training was established including modern equipment and machines.
This unit achieved the following:
-
Implementing and evaluating ( 8 ) exploring courses to determine
the training needs of post graduates
-
About
15 training courses were implemented on the basis of training
requirements
-
Two local courses and
a seminar on GATT were held including many of concerned leaders of
economy from Egypt, Europe,
USA and Arab countries
-
The
training unit contributes to implementing two courses with
Agricultural Cooperative Union and General Union of Arab
Agricultural Farmers and Cooperators
-
Holding
28 training courses for HIAC students in summer vacation in
different activities.
-
Establishing network
of communication with other bodies inside and outside
Egypt.
-
Placing Training Information system and proceeding to implement it
to record training activity
-
Analyzing actions and work inside HIAC through forms of job
analysis to be Filled out by staff of HIAC
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Research field:
The Research Unit
carries out researches and studies and it organizes scientific courses and
conferences in different fields. The achievements of research unit
are summarized as follows:
-
This unit prepared
two studies . The first one is on “ Role of cooperatives in marketing
rice” and the Second one is on “ Role of cooperatives in marketing cotton “
-
The
Research Unit organized two seminars on Problems of cotton
marketing and cooperatives role & problems of rice marketing and
cooperatives role
-
The Research Units in cooperation with the Center
of Agricultural Rural Development (CARD) in Iowa State University,
USA and Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, organized a scientific
seminar on “ Future Expectations of Egyptian Agriculture under
GATT Agreement “
-
A research was prepared on “ Consumer demand
on most important food products in Egypt and expectations
of important changes in consumption till 2001”
-
An important four researches were prepared in
cooperation with College of Agriculture, Ain Shams
University, Ministry of Agriculture and National Institute of
Researches. They are researches as follows :
-
A study on “Recent and expected marketing
problems of agricultural products in the newly reclaimed lands and
the role of
extension to face these problems”
-
A study on “ Agricultural re-structure within
contemporary local and international changes”
-
A study on “ Marketing horticulture crops in
Egypt with the possibility of expansion to export them.
-
An economic study on corn crops with
concentration on the role of cooperatives in adopting the modern
recommendations.
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Media Unit :
¨
Media
production for some curricula in HIAC
¨
Documentary
media production of HIAC and the project activities
¨
Extension media production of some kinds of crops as potato
¨
The
Media Unit made a training for students on using media equipment and
some media products to be used in agricultural extension
related products.
¨
Participating in training courses and organizing two courses on
audio visual facilities and their uses in production
¨
Organizing a national seminar on “ Media facilities and consumer
protection “ attended by participants from all concerned scientific
and academic bodies, ministries and institutions specialized in this
field .
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HIAC executive regulations was issued
after the project established the following :
First: Agricultural Research and Experimental Station includes:
1.
Livestock Development Unit:
It includes 400 buffaloes 290
cows and 160 sheep as well as 12 folds, each g 1500m2
2.
Fish Farming Unit:
It was built on
8000m2 and supplied with specialized equipment to be an educational,
extension and productive farm, including several kinds of fish. Its
productive capacity is 18 tons in per rotation.
3.
Plant Development Unit:
Planting
the following crops:
-
Fruits
on 85 acres
-
Vegetable on 20 acres
-
Field
crops on 5 acres
4.
Green Houses Unit:
About 5 acres are
planted
5.
Post Harvest Center
It includes :
-
Olive
Squeezing Unit, with a capacity 1,2 ton/hr.
-
Grading and Sorting Unit , in full capacity to serve the
neighboring.
-
A Refrigerator for vegetable and fruits, and two refrigerators
with storage capacity of 25 ton
6.
Plant Tissue Culture Lab:
It works in full
capacity and it produces ornamental plants
7.
Unit of Caring and increasing old Egyptian
trees
8. Dairy
Production Unit
Two automated
milking parlors
were built , its power about 20 drops of buffalo milk + 16 drops of
cow milk = 36 drops of milk
9. Unit
of Ornamental medical and aromatic plants
About 10 acres of
ornamental plants were cultivated
10.
Meteorology Unit
It works in full
capacity to serve the neighboring region
11.
Service Units includes
-
Bascule
scales,
its capacity is 60 tons
-
Veterinary and Procreation Caring Unit
-
half mechanism
bakery,
its power 2 large sacks /hr
-
Maintenance workshop including ( maintenance of equipment –
carpentry – fixing drainage – electricity – ironwork )
12.
Waste Recycling Unit
Recycling of
wastes to be fertilizers and producing compost
13.
Training Center
This center has
been equipped for 150 trainees including a restaurant for 150
trainees and all required accessories. It was established for all
training and promotion activities for students of HIAC and other
educational and research institutes and centers by virtue of joint
contracts.
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Its goals are
follows:
-
Contributing to researches, feasibility studies and development
projects that may be required by agricultural and cooperative
bodies and persons
-
Organizing training courses for students and post graduates and
staff of agricultural sectors by providing them with skills and
professional abilities required for economic, social and
technological changes in job market
-
Holding
specialized courses on cooperative and agricultural work
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